Children in particular are likely to want to emulate the heroics of players such as Jonny Wilkinson, who decided the World Cup final with a last-gasp drop-goal.

Nigel Dudding, coach of Henley Rugby Club, says: "In the past, rugby has tended to be a private school game. There was a fall in the number of state schools playing rugby, especially during the teacher disputes of the Eighties. But the World Cup win could be the catalyst we need to get kids from different social backgrounds playing rugby."

For any child thinking of taking up rugby, the sport has a lot to offer.

Terry Burwell, the Rugby Football Union's community rugby director, says: "Obesity is costing this country £2 billion a year. If we can get ten per cent of the population more active, we can change the whole nature of the way we fund our health service."

There are excellent social benefits, too. Burwell says: "It's mentally engaging, thoughtful and creative and helps develop character.

"It breeds respect and understanding of team-mates and allows the opportunity to interact and socialise with people from other sectors of the community. Many players say it has made them friends for life."

But those who are unfamiliar with the sport may not be fully aware of the risks involved. Unlike football, rugby is a contact sport, which means injuries occur regularly.

Dr Paul D Jackson, who was the doctor for the England Rugby Sevens team from 1993 to 2000, says: "Injuries are unavoidable in a contact sport and anyone thinking of taking up rugby must go into it with that in mind."

A report published in October 2000 by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found rugby union injuries occurred in 47 per cent of all games. Most were muscle or ligament injuries to the knee, hip or thigh.

Dr Jackson says: "The most common types of contact injuries are sprained knees, legs and ankles, followed by shoulder injuries. Rugby players also get more shoulder, elbow and wrist injuries.

"Hamstring muscle tears, calf tears, dead legs or bruises to the thighs are more common in rugby."

The most serious injuries are those involving the head and neck. Though these occur more frequently in rugby than football, they are still extremely rare and the situation has improved since the International Rugby Board modified the rules to minimise neck injuries.

Dr Jackson says: "You have to keep your shoulders above your hips now, so the scrums can't collapse, and they also changed rules in the line-out to stop people getting tipped over. You are also not allowed to tackle people above the shoulder."

The RFU also tries to ensure that children are introduced to full contact gradually and safely.

Burwell says: "The RFU has a continuum which introduces the various elements of the game in a stepped approach.

"With under-sevens, we start with a non-contact game called touch and tag, which involves running, passing and handling. At nine we introduce contact but scrummages are passive. Through nine, ten, 11, 12, 13, we introduce lineouts and bring more people into the game, starting with seven-a-side and moving to 11-a-side. We don't allow full pushing in the scrum or lifting in the line-outs."

Dr Jackson says: "Contact injuries can be avoided by learning good technique, so proper training is essential."